Anthony Wayne Area Drug Stoppers Program

In 2017, the police chiefs of Whitehouse PD, Waterville PD, and Waterville Township PD, and Sheriff John Tharp of the Lucas County Sheriff’s Office met to discuss ways to address the opioid epidemic and other illicit drug use and sales in and around the Anthony Wayne area.  Working with AWAKE Coalition and the Anthony Wayne Regional Chamber of Commerce, the group created the Anthony Wayne Area Drug Stoppers Program.  

The Drug Stoppers Program addresses the issue in two components:  

• Notification of illegal drug sales and activity

• Assistance for those with addiction and their families

Anyone with knowledge can call 419-740-6998, or text 72727 to provide information or to access addiction services.  Callers may remain anonymous and would be eligible for rewards for information that leads to arrest/conviction of drug dealers.

Signs advertising the program were placed on the main routes throughout the Anthony Wayne area.  Our hope is to provide a conduit for citizens to notify law enforcement to help save lives.  Many thanks to area law enforcement, the AWAKE Board, Anthony Wayne Regional Chamber of Commerce, and local governments for sponsoring this important community initiative.

Representatives of member agencies who assisted in establishing the Anthony Wayne Area Drug Stoppers Program. Pictured (l – r): Chief Mark McDonough (Whitehouse Police), Amy Barrett (AWAKE Coalition), Chief Richard Bingham (Waterville Township Police), Captain Matthew Luettke (Lucas County Sheriff’s Office), Chief David Lagrange (Waterville Police). Not Pictured: Joshua Torres, Anthony Wayne Regional Chamber of Commerce (Photo courtesy of The Mirror/ Karen Gerhardinger)